🇮🇸 European artificial intelligence center will run in Ölfus

29

Collaborative project on the utilization of 20 Megawatts to run the center of artificial intelligence in Europe in the next 5 years.

Ölfus Cluster and AI Green Cloud ehf. have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch an eco-friendly AI data center next year. The data center will house industry-leading hardware from NVIDIA, the tech giant that has established itself as the cash cow of the AI ​​revolution (NVIDIA’s stock has tripled in value over the past 12 months).

45% less energy consumption than in normal data centers

With a new cooling technology called immersion cooling, computers and silicon are poured into cooling tanks with a specially prepared liquid. This cooling results in an estimated 45% overall energy savings compared to conventional air-cooled data centers.

“This project fits very well with Ölfus’ strategy regarding the green industrial park and the circulation of side streams. This is yet another egg in the growing basket of job opportunities in the region, as well as the fact that the project will deliver exciting new technical knowledge to the Municipality,” said Elliði Vignisson, mayor of Þorlákshafnar.

Heat reused for other projects

Ölfus Cluster will assist in securing a suitable location for the activity, where infrastructure such as electricity and data transmission will soon be available.

The advanced corridor will be able to reuse 80% of the heat generated by running large AI models on its hardware.

A method will be developed to utilize the output heat from 55 degree hot water for other projects in the area. With this, you can achieve up to 80% reuse of energy, which is very much in line with the strategy that green industrial parks in Þorlákshöfn have put forward.

“The hardware that runs the artificial intelligence that we are all starting to use today requires a lot of energy and therefore generates a lot of heat. Only now can we use this waste heat and give it to other projects that can use it.” said Kjartan Hrafn Kjartansson, CEO

AI Green Cloud ehf. aims to ensure the development and knowledge in artificial intelligence in Iceland for the future. It is in close cooperation with the “GPU as a Service” (GaaS) company AI Green Bytes AS from Norway, which leads the development, operation and service of deep cooling in data centers with NVIDIA equipment.

 

In the beginning, it is about 0.6 MwH of electricity, which could expand to up to 20 MW over the next 5-10 years.

 

AI Green Cloud ehf was founded in 2024 by Icelandic investors with the purpose of supporting the circular economy in data centers in Iceland. Ölfus Cluster is the priority project of Ölfus Municipality to strengthen environmental issues and increase the number of jobs. AI Green Bytes AS was founded in 2023 and has headquarters in Norway and offices in Portugal and now also Iceland.

Páll Marvin and Kjartan Hrafn sign a letter of intent to launch an eco-friendly artificial intelligence data center next year within a green industrial park in Ölfus.


Originally published on 11 October by Ölfus Cluster.

Announcements are published as a service to readers. The sender is responsible for all content.

Announcements for publication can be submitted to [email protected].